Heat exchanger tube for heating system

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a heat exchanger tube for a heating system, which is suitable for any kinds of heating systems mounted in doors. The heat exchanger tube comprises a tube body, in which a plurality of lobes are formed on an outside surface of the tube body around the peripheral of the tube body and a plurality of ribs are formed on an outside surface of the tube body along the length of the tube body. Each of the ribs is inclined with respect to the longitude axis of the tube body by an angle of about 15 degree. The advantages of the present invention are in that: 1. the ribs could increase the heat exchanging surface; 2. the lobes could increase the heat radiating surface; and 3. as the heat exchanger tube is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, the heating medium would not be polluted by rust generated in iron tubes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority benefit of China patent application No. 200610122946.0 filed on Oct. 24, 2006, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heating system, in particular to heat exchanger tubes used in a heating system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the world, there are many countries or regions located in the temperate zone or the frigid zone. In winter, the temperature in those countries or regions is too low to bear even in doors. Traditionally, heating systems is provided in buildings, to raise the temperature in the rooms. According to the source of heat, the heating systems could be classified into the following types.

-   -   (A) An electrical power 8 supplies electrical energy to a         heating resistance 7, and the heated resistance warms the air,         as shown in FIG. 5.     -   (B) Natural gas 9 is burned in a furnace, and the burning         natural gas 10 generates warm air 11, as shown in FIG. 6.     -   (C) Wood 12 is burned in a furnace, and the burning wood         generates warm air 11, as shown in FIG. 7.     -   (D) Hot water is supplied to and passes through heat exchangers         mounted in buildings, as shown in FIG. 8. In modern cities, the         hot water is generally supplied from a central heating system,         and the heat exchangers are all made of iron by means of         welding. The hot water circulates in tubes of those heat         exchangers and erodes the inside surface of the tubes, which         would generate rust to pollute the hot water. The polluted hot         water then flows back into the central heating system, which         will pollute most of the heating containers in the central         heating system. The central heating system and the heat         exchangers could only be maintained in spring after the supply         of hot water is suspended and the hot water in the tubes is         discharged. In addition, the thermal impedance of iron is very         high, for example, the thermal conductivity of iron is 72.1 when         heating medium is in 100° C., which would incur energy waste and         environmental pollution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger tube for an existing heating system in the related art.

The present invention provides a heat exchanger tube, which comprises a tube body containing an inside surface exposed to a heating medium and an outside surface exposed to the air, wherein a plurality of lobes are formed on the outside surface of the tube body around the peripheral of the tube body.

Preferably, the lobes may be systematical with respect to a longitude axis of the tube body and each of the lobes may comprise a plurality of laminates in a laminated form. More preferably, a plurality of ribs may be formed on the inside surface of the tube body along the length of the tube body. Each of the ribs may be inclined with respect to a longitude axis of the tube body, and the inclination between each rib and the longitude axis of the tube body is preferably 15 degree. Thus, the ribs could be helically formed on the inside surface of the tube body to increase the heat-exchanging surface of the heat exchanger tube.

Preferably, the heat exchanger tube of the present invention may be made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

The thermal impedance of the heat exchanger tube of the present invention is very low, for example, the thermal conductivity thereof is 173 when heating medium is in 100° C., which could greatly decrease energy consumption. In addition, as the aluminum or aluminum alloy tube will not generate rust, the heating medium would not be polluted by the rust, which will protect the environment in turn.

The advantages of the present invention are in that: 1. as a plurality of ribs are formed on the inside surface of the tube body and are inclined with respect to the longitude axis of the tube body, the heat exchanging surface would be increased; 2. as a plurality of laminated lobes are formed on the outside surface of the tube body, the heat radiating surface would be increased; 3. as the heat exchanger tube is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, the heating medium would not be polluted by rust generated in iron tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the structure of the heat exchanger tube according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger tube according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger tube according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the utility of the heat exchanger tube according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an electrical heating device in the related art;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of natural gas burning furnace in the related art;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of wood burning furnace in the related art; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a heat exchange device for hot water in the related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying figures.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the heat exchanger tube of the present invention comprises a tube body 1, which includes an inside surface 3 exposed to a heating medium and an outside surface exposed to the air. The traversal cross section of the tube body could be in any suitable shape, such as a polygon, a circle, a rectangle and so on.

A plurality of lobes 2 are formed on the outside surface of the tube body 1 around the peripheral of the tube body 1. Preferably, each of the lobes 2 is formed along the whole length of the tube body 1. The lobes 2 could be formed by any means known in the related art. For example, the lobes 2 may be formed integrally with the tube body 1, or the lobes 2 could be formed by means of cutting the outside surface of the tube body 1. Preferably, the lobes 2 are systematical with respect to a longitude axis of the tube body 1.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each lobe 2 may comprise a plurality of laminates to become in a laminated form. As mentioned above, the laminates of each lobe could be formed by any means known in the related art. For example, the laminates may be formed integrally with the tube body 1, or may be formed by means of cutting the lobes 2 after the later are formed.

As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of ribs 4 may be formed on the inside surface 3 of the tube body 1 along the length of the tube body 1.

Preferably, each of the ribs 4 is inclined with respect to the longitude axis of the tube body 1, thus, each rib would be helically formed on the inside surface 3. More preferably, each rib 4 is inclined with respect to the longitude axis of the tube body 1 by an angle of about 15 degree.

The heat exchanger tube of the present invention may be made of any suitable material. Preferably, the heat exchanger tube may be made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

The heat exchanger tubes of the present invention may be connected to a central heating system. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of heat exchanger tubes are provided between an inlet port 5 and an outlet port 6 of the heating system. A heating medium is supplied to the heat exchanger tube through the inlet port 5 and flows out of the heat exchanger tube via the outlet port 6. Thus, the heating medium inside the heat exchanger tubes could transfer heat to the air outside the heat exchanger tubes.

Although the description of the present invention is made with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications and changes can be made to the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopes of the present invention. 

1. A heat exchanger tube for a heating system, comprising a tube body containing an inside surface exposed to a heating medium and an outside surface exposed to the air, wherein a plurality of lobes are formed on the outside surface of the tube body around the peripheral of the tube body.
 2. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 1, wherein each of the lobes comprises a plurality of laminates in a laminated form.
 3. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 1, wherein the lobes are systematical with respect to a longitude axis of the tube body.
 4. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 2, wherein the lobes are systematical with respect to a longitude axis of the tube body.
 5. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ribs are formed on the inside surface of the tube body along the length of the tube body.
 6. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 5, wherein each of the ribs is inclined with respect to a longitude axis of the tube body.
 7. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 6, wherein each of the ribs is inclined with respect to the longitude axis of the tube body by an angle of 15 degree.
 8. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of ribs are formed on an inside surface of the tube body along the length of the tube body.
 9. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 8, wherein each of the ribs is inclined with respect to a longitude axis of the tube body.
 10. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 9, wherein each of the ribs is inclined with respect to the longitude axis of the tube body by an angle of 15 degree.
 11. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said heat exchanger tubes are provided between an inlet port and an outlet port of the heating system for heating medium passing through.
 12. The heat exchanger tube according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger tube is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. 